These are anxious times.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread we are taking additional safety measures in line with WHO and government advice to protect our team, their loved ones and our customers, partners and suppliers to help slow transmission of the virus.
THE SITUATION IS GRAVE. THE RESPONSE IS CRITICAL.
We will do everything we can to continue. Professional laundry and cleaning products are vital. People need jobs and the government needs us to keep going. More than ever.
The full scale of impact is unknowable now, but there’s no doubt that it will hurt the hospitality industry badly. This will have a knock-on effect on professional laundries and our supply to them. We will do our very best to be ready to evolve to the demands and expectations of our customers and the needs of the general public.
Meanwhile, there is no shortage of demand for cleaning products right now and we are preparing to try and help meet that demand and play our part in slowing transmission. For that reason, it’s vital that we remain open, while we are still allowed to be open.
We are all in this together.
WHAT STEPS ARE WE TAKING THAT CAN HELP?
We have so much admiration for NHS workers, emergency responders and those on the front line.
We have decided to increase the size of batches with a view to donating excess stock to emergency workers, care homes and those who are most in need right now. Please get in touch if you know of somewhere or someone that is in critical need of these products.
We will continue to make relevant stock items that have not been allocated, which can be of assistance. We are preparing to be able to donate more as the situation develops. These will be offered to those that need them most. Please get in touch if you know of somewhere in critical need.
Mail hello@idealmanufacturing.com
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE IDEAL TEAM?
These are uncertain times for all of us, and we will no doubt need the support of each other to navigate through the next few months. We’re taking our responsibility to slow the transmission extremely seriously. We have asked all those who can possibly work from home, to do so, from 17th March 2020.
Production goes on with critical members of the team in place. They will continue their roles, which simply can’t be done from home. I ask that everyone supports them in their efforts. They are doing a truly incredible job.
We have INSISTED that anyone over the age of 70, or close to that age or anyone in a high-risk category takes government advice to self-isolate until further notice. We will ensure that our team stay in regular contact with anyone self-isolating and we will do what we can to support them.
The steps we’ve taken for our Northamptonshire factory and our team are detailed below:
Finance & Customer support team
Working as normal
Wherever possible, from their own homes.
100% travel ban
Face to face meetings are off, calling is on
Field Chemists & Engineers
Working from home
100% travel ban
No new installs
Emergency call-outs only with very strict safety guidelines
Remote trouble shooting
Face to face meetings are off, calling is on
Lab & Production team
Our production team cannot work from home
The Ideal lab team & QC are working on a rota to ensure safe social distancing
We’re operating strict social distancing in the factory with new work area protocols
No external site visitors
Strict hygiene & cleaning routines and controls
No admission to anyone with symptoms or exposure to those outside the factory with symptoms.
SUPPLY
Over the next few weeks, there will be inevitable delays on orders and customer-service requests. There will no doubt be problems with supply lines and packaging. We ask for understanding and patience from customers. There are bigger issues for the world right now. We’re constantly engaging with our supply chain partners to assess impacts and to keep disruption to an absolute minimum.
Our supply chain is robust and well controlled by us and our suppliers. However, given the unpredictability of recent events, we will continue to keep an eye on everything and we’ll be here to communicate any issues if they arise.
WE ARE A TEAM
This is not going to be easy. We really don’t know how long this might take to pass. Please, let’s all work as a team, talk to each other, share a few smiles, more than ever, even if we need to distance ourselves from each other physically.
The Ideal Team will still be available for conference calls and remote programming using teams, zoom, skype, whatsapp or facetime to communicate over the coming weeks. We encourage our friends, suppliers, partners and customers everywhere to take all the extra precautions necessary to safeguard their health and that of others too. It’s everyone’s responsibility to help stop the spread of this virus. Please understand we are taking this very seriously indeed and want to play our part in reducing the spread. The WHO, Public Health England and the incredible NHS are the best resources for updates and information and we will continue to follow their advice closely.
SUDS, SWEAT & TEARS
Over 40 years of suds, sweat and tears, Ideal Manufacturing has been faced with many tough challenges. Our INCREDIBLE team always seems to emerge stronger and with renewed hope after each crisis. This might be one hell of a big one but we will do everything we can to get through this challenge, too.
We thank you for your loyalty, understanding and support. We also want to thank those working in our factory, on deliveries and those ready to respond in the field. They are heroes.
Please check in on your neighbours and elderly relatives and those who are vulnerable. Beyond the health and economic consequences, Covid-19 is creating anxiety, fear and isolation. Communicating is good for your mental health. So please get in touch.
Please also mail hello@idealmanufacturing.com or call 01933 681 616 and let us know if you have any further concerns or questions not covered here.
Also, please try to avoid panic buying or stockpiling, so that everyone can get what they need.
Here’s a quote that cuts through everything:
Viruses are contagious, so is panic, fear, hysteria, calm, love, enthusiasm, kindness and joy.
Choose wisely.
Wishing you all the best, there will be brighter days again!
Stay strong,
Phillip & Mike
